Mayor Castro to pen autobiography

Updated 9:31 am, Wednesday, November 14, 2012

In June 1999, Julian and Joaquin Castro appeared as guests on "SA Community Pride," a locally produced show on the public access.

Media: San Antonio Express-News

By the midterm elections in 2014, Julián Castro's memoir will be on bookshelves nationwide.

New York-based Little, Brown and Co. will announce today that it has acquired the rights to publish Castro's yet-to-be-written book in English and Spanish as well as an audio version. The memoir will be published in 2014, the publishing house says.

Since delivering the keynote address on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, Castro has become a national figure, and widely discussed as a future president.

“We think Julián has a very universal story, filled with drama, struggle and achievement and it will appeal to a wide range of readers across the country,” Little, Brown spokeswoman Nicole Dewey said in an email. “We have plans for a major national marketing and publicity campaign.”

The publishing groups owned by Hachette Book Group, including Little, Brown and Co., have published scores of biographies, autobiographies and memoirs, such as Dan Rather's "Rather Outspoken," Carole King's "A Natural Woman," Richard Nixon's "Leaders," and Nelson Mandela's "Mandela."

Photo: Darren Abate, Darren Abate/For The Express-New

Image 1of/27

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 27

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro speaks to supporters of his twin brother, US House of Representatives candidate Joaquin Castro, during Joaquin Castro's election night reception, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in San Antonio.

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro speaks to supporters of his twin brother, US House of Representatives candidate Joaquin Castro, during Joaquin Castro's election night reception, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in San

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, left, and brother Joaquin Castro stand at the podium during preparations for the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 2, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The DNC that will start on September 4 and run through September 7, will nominate U.S. President Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) less

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, left, and brother Joaquin Castro stand at the podium during preparations for the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 2, 2012 in Charlotte, ... more

Image 3 of 27

CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 02: San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro stands on stage during preparations for the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 2, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The DNC that will start on September 4 and run through September 7, will nominate U.S. President Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images) less

CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 02: San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro stands on stage during preparations for the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 2, 2012 in Charlotte, North ... more

Image 4 of 27

San Antonio, Texas Mayor Julian Castro talks to reporters at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012. The mayor will give the keynote speech at the DNC. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press) less

San Antonio, Texas Mayor Julian Castro talks to reporters at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012. The mayor will give the keynote speech at the DNC. (Jae C. Hong / ... more

Image 5 of 27

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, left, who will be the convention keynote speaker, and his twin brother, state Rep. Joaquin Castro, who is running for U.S. Congress, are interviewed at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Sept. 3, 2012. (Charles Dharapak / Associated Press) less

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, left, who will be the convention keynote speaker, and his twin brother, state Rep. Joaquin Castro, who is running for U.S. Congress, are interviewed at the Democratic National ... more

Image 6 of 27

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, left, who will be the convention keynote speaker, and his twin brother, state Rep. Joaquin Castro, who is running for U.S. Congress, are interviewed at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Sept. 3, 2012. (Charles Dharapak / Associated Press) less

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, left, who will be the convention keynote speaker, and his twin brother, state Rep. Joaquin Castro, who is running for U.S. Congress, are interviewed at the Democratic National ... more

Image 7 of 27

Mayoral candidate Julian Castro smiles after announcing his runoff election against Phil Hardberger at his campaign headquarters in the evening on Saturday, May 7, 2005. Castro was leading the early voting with 39 percent of the votes. (JERRY LARA / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS) less

Mayoral candidate Julian Castro smiles after announcing his runoff election against Phil Hardberger at his campaign headquarters in the evening on Saturday, May 7, 2005. Castro was leading the early voting with ... more

Councilman Julian Castro, center, candidate for San Antonio mayor, addresses the crowd Tuesday, June 7, 2005, in San Antonio at Castro's campaign headquarters. At left is his girlfriend, Erica Lira, and at right is his twin brother, Joaquin. Retired state judge Phil Hardberger held a narrow lead over Castro late Tuesday in the mayoral runoff. (BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI / AP) less

Councilman Julian Castro, center, candidate for San Antonio mayor, addresses the crowd Tuesday, June 7, 2005, in San Antonio at Castro's campaign headquarters. At left is his girlfriend, Erica Lira, and at ... more

Image 13 of 27

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, left, and his brother, state Rep. Joaquin Castro give an interview during preparations for the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on Sept. 3, 2012 in Charlotte, N.C. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images) less

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, left, and his brother, state Rep. Joaquin Castro give an interview during preparations for the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on Sept. 3, 2012 in ... more

Image 14 of 27

In the eye of the camera: Julian Castro. (Rick Dunham / Hearst Newspapers)

In the eye of the camera: Julian Castro. (Rick Dunham / Hearst Newspapers)

Democrats view Julian Castro as a future star of the national party. (San Antonio Express-News)

Democrats view Julian Castro as a future star of the national party. (San Antonio Express-News)

Image 24 of 27

Mayor Castro is considered one of his party's best political orators. (San Antonio Express-News)

Mayor Castro is considered one of his party's best political orators. (San Antonio Express-News)

Image 25 of 27

Joaquin Castro left, introduces his twin brother and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro during the the 2012 Texas Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center Friday, June 8, 2012, in Houston. (James Nielsen / Chronicle) less

Joaquin Castro left, introduces his twin brother and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro during the the 2012 Texas Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center Friday, June 8, 2012, in ... more

Image 26 of 27

Democratic Congressional Candidate Joaquin Castro speaks prior to introducing his twin brother and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro during the the 2012 Texas Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center Friday, June 8, 2012, in Houston. (James Nielsen / Chronicle) less

Democratic Congressional Candidate Joaquin Castro speaks prior to introducing his twin brother and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro during the the 2012 Texas Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. ... more

Image 27 of 27

Mayor Castro to pen autobiography

1 / 27

Back to Gallery

Castro, 38, was elected mayor in 2009 — the youngest in any major U.S. city.

He first was approached about writing his life story after a major profile on him ran in the New York Times Magazine in 2010. But the time wasn't right, he said.

After the DNC speech, the calls came in again.

“I was approached after the New York Times Magazine article in 2010 and basically decided that I would put that off. It didn't feel like the time was right back then,” he said. “Then I was approached after the speech and decided to take on the challenge.”

Castro said he's already begun outlining the book and sketching out the important moments in his life. The story likely will delve deeply into the life he and his twin brother Joaquín, elected last week to Congress, led with their single mother and grandmother.

The two women played central roles in the Castro brothers' lives and were highlighted in the mayor's DNC speech.

Having given the keynote address that propelled him onto the national stage, Castro has been compared to Barack Obama, who entered the public consciousness after he gave a famous keynote address at the DNC in 2004.

Obama also penned an autobiography at a young age. He was 33 when “Dreams From My Father” was published in 1995.

What Castro writes is critically important, Jillson said, pointing to Gov. Rick Perry's “Fed Up,” which published around his successful re-election bid in 2010. Jillson described it as “something without much between the covers.”

The memoir could serve as a further introduction to the nation for Castro, and it gives him the opportunity to tell his own story through his own prism, Jillson said.

If he's “lucky,” someone like David Maraniss — the biographer for Obama and former President Bill Clinton — will take the autobiography, tear it apart and reassemble it through a more objective perspective.

Most Popular

Castro said Tuesday that the comparisons to Obama and the path that led him to the White House are flattering,

“But I wouldn't put myself in the same category as President Obama,” he said. “I'm taking on writing the book because I look forward to thinking through and expressing my own story and relating that to the experience of so many other Americans. That's the satisfaction I'll get out of it.”

Castro said he received an advance for the book and has a contract with the publisher but declined to discuss the details. Little, Brown and Co. does not disclose the details of its contracts.

Castro will work with Little, Brown editor Geoff Shandler, who will help the mayor “with direction and revision, through conversation, suggestion and pencil work,” he said in an email. “My job is to read closely, offer constructive commentary.”

Shandler said his editing at times would be broad, focusing on structure, and at times would be concentrated on detail such as the best wording for a particular sentence.

“I plan to work with Mayor Castro directly throughout his crafting of the text — to my great fortune, since I will be among the first to read what promises to be a remarkable book.”